The Devil’s Runaway Bride

Chapter 2

Three months later, I am in a new state and it’s my birthday today and the only way I know that is because there is a package from my sister in my mailbox.

It has been our tradition for as long as I remember to always make sure we send each other gifts on birthdays no matter where we are.

Even when she disappeared for a few years during her senior year of high school, she always made sure to send me gifts on my birthday because she knows our parents would not remember or care about it.

“We only have each other,” she had said in one of her letters to me. “So let's stick together. That's the only way we'll make it out alive”

Our parents see us as possessions. Means to an end. They are quite disappointed they couldn't sire a male heir. Poor daddy and mummy. They always make sure we know that. So when Elena returned four years later with a three year old son, it suddenly made so much sense.

She ran away to protect herself and her child because she knew our parents would have get rid of the pregnancy. But I knew more than anyone how much she wanted to be a mother.

I don't quite know what was on her mind or how she thought she could take care of herself and a child at eighteen. But she managed anyway.

Elena is the only one who knows where I am. Well she and Jack, her son. He is the honorary member of the Donovan sibling society. Well, we had to force him in because it didn’t make sense to have a two-man society.

I cut through the box with a pocket knife. Inside is a pair of heels I told her I liked but couldn’t get ot because of the extremely long waitlist five months ago and a note.

“Happy birthday, Liz,” I read to myself. “I miss you so much and can’t wait for you to back home. I got you these shoes because you couldn’t shut up about it for 3 days straight. Smiley face. From El and Jack,”

I wipe the tears running down my cheeks and remind myself to thank her later. After placing the box safely in my room, I take a walk to my favorite coffee shop which just happens to be the only one in this town.

That’s how dead it is.

I pass by an aged couple and wonder what kinds of secrets they are hiding.

I realized something few mobths ago. There’s no reason for anyone to stay in this town except they hiding. Either from the government, someone or themselves.

I put up my sweatshirt’s hood even though no one in this shitty town cares enough to give me a second glance. I love shitty towns. You could pass out on the sidewalk and everyone would ignore you.

The shop is empty like it always is around this time but for some reason, it unsettling.

An unusual face takes my order. Which is wierd because there an only two people on the staff.The owner and his daughter. As I hand my card to the waiter to pay for my drink, she takes a second look at me.

“You look so familiar ,” she says.

“I just have one of thoes faces,” I tell her hoping she won’t keep pushing.

“I could have sworn I have seen you somewhere,”

She obviously isn’t from here. She’s too inquisitive.

I wave a hand dismissively. “You have the wrong person,”

I take back my card and leave the shop not bothering to take the drink. I pull the strings of my hood and rub a hand against my forehead. A tennage boy passes me on his bicycle and I bow my head.

Sometimes, I ask myself why I even bother hiding. It would be easier to go home and just tell him to his face that I will not marry him and pay whatever penalty I have to for breaking the deal. But life is never easy. It sounds simple but it is not simple at all.

I will eventually have to face my family but I will avoid it for as long as I can.

As soon as I make this resolve, that’s when I hear it. Footsteps that are at the same pace as mine. Someone is following me.

I can’t run because then they’ll know that I know. So I keep walking at that exact same paceand dip my hand into the pocket of my sweatpants to make sure I have my pocket knife with me.

I walk into the alleyway between two of the tallest buildings in town. I just have to make it to the other side. It’s a flea market. So I had be able to lose my stalker there.

I am barely halfway into the allyway when five suited men show up on the other side. I turn behind me but there is no one there. I wasn’t imagining hearing the footsteps. That I am sure of.

They have a plan.

I take my pocket knife and place it on my neck.

“Don’t come close or I will do it,” I threaten walking backwards.

They glance at themselves obviously confused.

“I know he asked you to bring me alive”. They are not coming after me. So that’s a good sign I guess. “I will be on my merry way. So just tell him you couldn’t find me”

At that exact moment I feel someone inject me in the neck with what I think is a tranquilizer because almost immediately I become drowsy.

This is not how I planned my day.

Happy birthday to me.